BGC (Biglaang Gala Chats)

Me with Whitey the Dove este Pigeon

Kapag biglaan, natutuloy.

I am not a fan of spontaneity. So I was surprised even by myself when I readily agreed to my friends’ invitation to visit the Venice Grand Canal Mall in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

I am still barely recovering financially, and yet I said yes to a day trip in one of Manila’s most expensive cities.

As I try to live my life with intention, I am slowly realizing how costly it can be, not just financially, but emotionally. It has always been easier for me to stay home, hibernating, mechanically working through piles of paperwork. After all, that is what I’ve done for years.

But this time, I gathered my courage and said yes to what life could offer; this time, with friends.

Lately, I have been reconnecting with my high school classmates, many of whom are successful in their careers. But beneath the titles lie familiar struggles: firstborns carrying the weight of family responsibilities, caring for aging parents while supporting younger siblings; individuals with dreams of their own, constantly recalibrating when life chooses a different path; career women who give generously to their families while trying to enjoy the present and still prepare for the future.

I have been to Venice Mall countless times, usually as a stopover on field trips. But it felt different this time, as a destination, with friends, with no obligations attached.

We ate. We laughed. We cried. We poured our energy into shooting basketballs and relaying pucks at the arcade, only to end up quietly sitting afterward, watching and feeding pigeons. We had so many plans and options, only to find ourselves sitting idly in the food court, unsure of what to do next. In many ways, our mall trip mirrored our current lives, and I was glad to be living that moment with them.

I’ve come to appreciate spontaneous dates. Life moves forward even when we step away from our responsibilities for a while. Sometimes, presence alone offers a rare kind of rest and relief.

We’re planning a coffee date at Starbucks next week. Sure. Why not?